Voltaren Gel

I was given a script today from the doctor who oversees my Remicade infusions for my colitis.  She is a rheumatologist, not a GI.  She advised me to take Voltaren Gel for my arthritis in my shoulder, elbow, hands and knees.  She said it is not absorbed into the digestive system so it would be alright for me.  My GI refused to give me Celebrex or Meloxicam.  I am also gluten intolerant.

I was wondering if anyone who had either or both, Colitis and a gluten intolerance has used Voltaren gel and what were the results.

Before I get this script filled I wanted to do some research to see what others felt about this drug.

 

I currently use voltaren gel for chronic back pain from surgery that I had in 99. It works so so. It works for maybe 30 minutes. The imporant thing to remember is to not rub it in. Put it on liberally and let is soak in. It works the best like that. I take meloxcam or mobic. i believe it is the same thing, and it is a life saver!!!!

spinal soldier,

It may be better to post in terminology that the lay person would understand when replying to questions.  I suspect  not many of our members are familiar with the interactions that occur between a living organism and chemicals that affect normal or abnormal biochemical function.

Thank you for your understanding.

Kitt

Hmmm my GI won't give me Meloxicam or Celebrex and was not pleased with me using the gel. I have finally given in and have an appointment to see the knee surgeon on November 23rd. I am scared to death of knee surgery and how it will affect my Colitis. I'm talking about the hours immediately following surgery. What happens if I gotta go... and can't make it to the washroom. *sigh*. I'm still trying to rationalize going through this. After all I hear it is very painful and wondering if the pain is any better or worse than I have now? I'm thinking, why trade one pain for another? I've read about the surgery and it just frightens me. Being 61 isn't all that fun...

Been there done that with bedpans and diapers after I broke my hip two days before my daughter's wedding when I was visiting Canada. I had no drugs to take and had to make it back to Texas after the wedding. By the time I got to the hospital at midnight I had a pulmonary embolism, broken hip and was in a full flare. It wasn't a pretty sight. Spent 3 weeks in the hospital.

It would be helpful if some readers who have had knee replacement surgery post their experiences and if their UC or Crohns was affected.

Nor_TX I have the SAME fears. I need to have both my knees replaced and have thought of the urgent bathroom issues with us too. I recently had kidney surgery and I had a bedside commode. But what I kept thinking about with that surgery was with a bum knee I am not going to be able to move even as fast (actually slow due to pain) as I did with the kidney surgery. So you are not alone. I will be watching this post to see what others say. Hugs~

P.S. I have Crohns

I had knee replacement last year, but was in remission. I did have a really major orthopedic surgery with much more pain and longer bed rest when I was flaring horribly, and had two shoulder surgeries during flares. The opiates in the pain medication always take care of any colitis issues, in fact I usually have to get a small dose of miralax to get things going again so they can discharge me.

Hi - I was just browsing and saw my name from awhile ago!

I was so nervous about having my hip surgery (and I documented all that here...) that I went into a flare. Flares are not usually stress-related for me, but this one obviously was.
So I took my UC meds and cortenemas and Rowasas to the hospital with me and fascinated the nurses, who knew nothing about all this (it was a "joint center" - specialized place.) I should have charged the hospital for the lectures I gave to groups of nurses - LOL!
But, between the meds which were, um, "solidifying" and the release of tension when the surgery was done, I went into complete remission.
They insisted I take Senekot for a day or two - and then the next day I had 4 bms and firmly but politely refused to take it again.

Keep us posted on how it goes!